Legging with a metal frame



June 2, 1953 G. E. MURPHY 2,640,281

LEGGING WITH A METAL FRAME Filed Oct. 25, 1951 "111,111. VIIIIJ llnlllll fun Emu mma. M BYGa an ur v Patented June 2, 1953 lilcation .Dctph r This invention relates to a legging or gaiter and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide an article of this kind which, when applied, serves to prevent grain or kindred material from passing into a shoe with resultant inconvenience and discomfort to the wearer.

A person handling granular material such as in a granary, stable or the like, frequently finds it necessary to remove his shoes to throw out the grain or the like which has entered the shoes through the tops thereof. A further object of the invention is to provide an article to be applied to the lower or ankle portion of a leg and overlying the top portion of a shoe to effectively close the top of the shoe against ingress of foreign matter into the shoe through the top thereof.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved foot protector whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a protector constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and in applied position;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the article unapplied;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the bottom frame as herein comprised and separate from the article as a unit; and

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating a modified form of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figuresl to 4 of the drawing, I denotes a sleeve like portion or legging of desired dimensions and open at its opposite ends. The sleeve portion or legging I is preferably of a textile material of an open mesh to allow air to readily pass therethrough to cool that portion of the leg of the wearer to which the sleeve portion or legging I is applied.

The part of the sleeve portion or legging I is transversely enlarged to provide a forward extension 2 which is intended to overlie the top part of the vamp of the shoe S. The front or free edge a of the extension 2 is disposed on an angle of approximately thirty (30) degrees with respect to the adjacent rear bottom edge b of the sleeve portion I.

Conforming to the lower end of the sleeve por- J n LEQQING WITH A GalenE. Murphy, Perryton; Tex.

1 51, "sea 1f f f 1 Claim. (01. 36-2) tion or legging I is a frame F of a material possessing requisite rigidity and resiliency and includes a rear part 3 substantially U-shaped in form and which tightly straddles the rear or heel portion of the shoe. The forward extremities of the part 3 are connected by the upstanding arch member 4 intended to tightly straddle the instep of the shoe. The arch portion 4 is disposed upwardly and forwardly with respect to the heel part 3 on an approximate angle of thirty (30) degrees or on such approximate angle as may be determined by the angular relation of the lower edges a and b of the sleeve portion or legging I.

The frame F maybe held in desired position upon the lower extremity of the sleeve portion or legging I but as comprised in this embodiment of the invention the sleeve portion I has a hem 5 formed along the edge of the said enlarged portion which tightly houses the frame F.

The foward extremities of the rear part 3 of the frame F have rigid therewith the outstanding headed members 6 with each of which is detachably engaged an end ortion of a retractile holding band or strap 1. This strap 1, when applied, underlies the shank portion of the shoe S adjacent to the heel 8 and holds the lower part of the article in desired position over the shoe S as is shown in Figure 1 of the drawing.

The top part of the sleeve portion or legging l, is woven to provide a retractile band 9 to closely and tightly surround the limb of the user to maintain the sleeve portion or legging I in desired adjustment on the leg.

In practice, before the article is applied, the shoe is removed from the foot and the sleeve portion or legging I drawn upon the leg. The shoe is then applied to the foot and the lower portion of the article drawn down to overlie the upper part of the shoe. The strap or band I is then applied to hold the frame F and the adjacent part of the sleeve portion or legging I in desired position.

The frame F may be of metal or plastic. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, the frame A is of plastic and comprises two nested sections between which is secured the lower marginal portion of the sleeve portion or legging I 0.

It is believed obvious from the foregoing that when an article embodying the invention is applied, entrance of grain or other foreign matter into the shoe at the top thereof is prevented.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a foot protector constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

A legging for the purpose stated, comprising a tubular portion of a loosely woven fabric fitting snugly about the lower part of the leg and having an enlarged lower end portion shaped to fit about the ankle and the outer side of the top edge portion of a low quarter type of shoe, an annular cufi of a heavier woven fabric integral with the top end of said tubular portion, a substantially rigid frame formed of a flat strip material to provide two substantially U-shaped portions having their legs joined in end-to-end relation, one a of said frame portions extending upwardly at an obtuse angle with respect to the other frame portion, a hem formed about the free edge of the said enlarged end. portion and enclosing said frame, the said one frame portion straddling the vamp of the shoe and the other frame portion the heel part of the shoe, studs projecting from the outer sides of the connected ends of the legs of said frame portions, and a strap (passing beneath the shank of the shoe and having its ends engaged with said studs,

GALEN E. MURPHY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,736,013 Peaohey Nov. 19, 1929 1,760,299 Dickerson May 27, 1930 

